pgw.piccadillyjim-第42部分

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　Ann　flung　herself　into　Jimmy's　arms；　and　he　held　her　tight。　He　shut　his　eyes。　Even　as　he　waited　for　the　end　the　thought　flashed　through　his　mind　that；　if　he　must　die；　this　was　the　manner　of　death　which　he　would　prefer。
　The　test…tube　crashed　on　the　writing…desk；　and　burst　into　a　million　pieces。　。　。　。
　Jimmy　opened　his　eyes。　Things　seemed　to　be　much　about　the　same　as　before。　He　was　still　alive。　The　room　in　which　he　stood　was　solid　and　intact。　Nobody　was　in　fragments。　There　was　only　one　respect　in　which　the　scene　differed　from　what　it　had　been　a　moment　before。　Then；　it　had　contained　Gentleman　Jack。　Now　it　did　not。
　A　great　sigh　seemed　to　sweep　through　the　room。　There　was　a　long　silence。　Then；　from　the　direction　of　the　street；　came　the　roar　of　a　starting　automobile。　And　at　that　sound　the　bearded　man　with　the　spectacles　who　had　formed　part　of　Miss　Trimble's　procession　uttered　a　wailing　cry。
　〃Gee！　He's　beat　it　in　my　bubble！　And　it　was　a　hired　one！〃
　The　words　seemed　to　relieve　the　tension　in　the　air。　One　by　one　the　pany　became　masters　of　themselves　once　more。　Miss　Trimble；　that　masterly　woman；　was　the　first　to　recover。　She　raised　herself　from　the　floorfor　with　a　confused　idea　that　she　would　be　safer　there　she　had　flung　herself　downand；　having　dusted　her　skirt　with　a　few　decisive　dabs　of　her　strong　left　hand；　addressed　herself　once　more　to　business。
　〃I　let　'm　bluff　me　with　a　fake　bomb！〃　she　mented　bitterly。　She　brooded　on　this　for　a　moment。　〃Say；　shut　th't　door　'gain；　some　one；　and　t'run　this　mutt　out。　I　can't　think　with　th't　yapping　going　on。〃
　Mrs。　Pett；　pale　and　scared；　gathered　Aida　into　her　arms。　At　the　same　time　Ann　removed　herself　from　Jimmy's。　She　did　not　look　at　him。　She　was　feeling　oddly　shy。　Shyness　had　never　been　a　failing　of　hers；　but　she　would　have　given　much　now　to　have　been　elsewhere。
　Miss　Trimble　again　took　charge　of　the　situation。　The　sound　of　the　automobile　had　died　away。　Gentleman　Jack　had　passed　out　of　their　lives。　This　fact　embittered　Miss　Trimble。　She　spoke　with　asperity。
　〃Well；　he's　gone！〃　she　said　acidly。　〃Now　we　can　get　down　t'　cases　again。　Say！〃　She　addressed　Mrs。　Pett；　who　started　nervously。　The　experience　of　passing　through　the　shadow　of　the　valley　of　death　and　of　finding　herself　in　one　piece　instead　of　several　thousand　had　robbed　her　of　all　her　wonted　masterfulness。　〃Say；　list'n　t'　me。　There's　been　a　double　game　on　here　t'night。　That　guy　that's　jus'　gone　was　th'　first　part　of　th'　entertainment。　Now　we　c'n　start　th'　sec'nd　part。　You　see　these　ducks？〃　She　indicated　with　a　wave　of　the　revolver　Mr。　Crocker　and　his　bearded　rade。　〃They've　been　trying　t'　kidnap　y'r　son！　〃
　Mrs。　Pett　uttered　a　piercing　cry。
　〃Oggie！〃
　〃Oh；　can　it！〃　muttered　that　youth；　unfortably。　He　foresaw　awkward　moments　ahead；　and　he　wished　to　concentrate　his　faculties　entirely　on　the　part　he　was　to　play　in　them。　He　looked　sideways　at　Chicago　Ed。　In　a　few　minutes；　he　supposed；　Ed　would　be　attempting　to　minimise　his　own　crimes；　by　pretending　that　he；　Ogden；　had　invited　him　to　e　and　kidnap　him。　Stout　denial　must　be　his　weapon。
　〃I　had　m'　suspicions；〃　resumed　Miss　Trimble；　〃that　someth'ng　was　goin'　t'　be　pulled　off　to…night；　'nd　I　was　waiting　outside　f'r　it　to　break　loose。　This　guy　here；〃　she　indicated　the　bearded　plotter；　who　blinked　deprecatingly　through　his　spectacles；　〃h's　been　waiting　on　the　c'rner　of　th'　street　for　the　last　hour　with　'n　automobile。　I've　b'n　watching　him　right　along。　I　was　onto　h's　game！　Well；　just　now　out　came　the　kid　with　this　plug…ugly　here。〃　She　turned　to　Mr。　Crocker。　〃Say　you！　Take　off　th't　mask。　Let's　have　a　l'k　at　you！〃
　Mr。　Crocker　reluctantly　drew　the　cambric　from　his　face。
　〃Goosh！〃　exclaimed　Miss　Trimble　in　strong　distaste。　〃Say；　've　you　got　some　kind　of　a　plague；　or　wh't　is　it？　Y'look　like　a　coloured　ic　supplement！〃　She　confronted　the　shrinking　Mr。　Crocker　and　ran　a　bony　finger　over　his　cheek。　〃Make…up！〃　she　said；　eyeing　the　stains　disgustedly。　〃Grease　paint！　Goosh！〃
　〃Skinner！〃　cried　Mrs。　Pett。
　Miss　Trimble　scanned　her　victim　more　closely。
　〃So　't　is；　if　y'　do　a　bit　'f　excavating。〃　She　turned　on　the　bearded　one。　〃'nd　I　guess　all　this　shrubbery　is　fake；　'f　you　e　down　to　it！〃　She　wrenched　at　the　unhappy　man's　beard。　It　came　off　in　her　hands；　leaving　a　square　chin　behind　it。　〃If　this　ain't　a　wig；　y'll　have　a　headache　t'morrow；〃　observed　Miss　Trimble；　weaving　her　fingers　into　his　luxuriant　head…covering　and　pulling。　〃Wish　y'　luck！　Ah！　'twas　a　wig。　Gimme　those　spect'cles。〃　She　surveyed　the　results　of　her　handiwork　grimly。　〃Say；　Clarence；〃　she　remarked；　〃y're　a　wise　guy。　Y'　look　handsomer　with　'em　on。　Does　any　one　know　this　duck？〃
　〃It　is　Mitchell；〃　said　Mrs。　Pett。　〃My　husband's　physical　instructor。〃
　Miss　Trimble　turned；　and；　walking　to　Jimmy；　tapped　him　meaningly　on　the　chest　with　her　revolver。
　〃Say；　this　is　gett'n　interesting！　This　is　where　y'　'xplain；　y'ng　man；　how　'twas　you　happened　to　be　down　in　this　room　when　th't　crook　who's　just　gone　was　monkeyin'　with　the　safe。　L'ks　t'　me　as　if　you　were　in　with　these　two。〃
　A　feeling　of　being　on　the　verge　of　one　of　those　crises　which　dot　the　smooth　path　of　our　lives　came　to　Jimmy。　To　conceal　his　identity　from　Ann　any　longer　seemed　impossible。　He　was　about　to　speak；　when　Ann　broke　in。
　〃Aunt　Nesta；〃　she　said；　〃I　can't　let　this　go　on　any　longer。　Jerry　Mitchell　isn't　to　blame。　I　told　him　to　kidnap　Ogden！〃
　There　was　an　awkward　silence。　Mrs。　Pett　laughed　nervously。
　〃I　think　you　had　better　go　to　bed；　my　dear　child。　You　have　had　a　severe　shock。　You　are　not　yourself。〃
　〃But　it's　true！　I　did　tell　him；　didn't　I；　Jerry？〃
　〃Say！〃　Miss　Trimble　silenced　Jerry　with　a　gesture。　〃You　beat　't　back　t'　y'r　little　bed；　honey；　like　y'r　aunt　says。　Y'　say　y'　told　this　guy　t'　steal　th'　kid。　Well；　what　about　this　here　Skinner？　Y'　didn't　tell　him；　did　y'？〃
　〃II〃　Ann　began　confusedly。　She　was　utterly　unable　to　account　for　Skinner；　and　it　made　her　task　of　explaining　difficult。
　Jimmy　came　to　the　rescue。　He　did　not　like　to　think　how　Ann　would　receive　the　news；　but　for　her　own　sake　he　must　speak　now。　It　would　have　required　a　harder…hearted　man　than　himself　to　resist　the　mute　pleading　of　his　father's　grease…painted　face。　Mr。　Crocker　was　a　game　sport：　he　would　not　have　said　a　word　without　the　sign　from　Jimmy；　even　to　save　himself　from　a　night　in　prison。　but　he　hoped　that　Jimmy　would　speak。
　〃It's　perfectly　simple；〃　said　Jimmy；　with　an　attempt　at　airiness　which　broke　down　miserably　under　Miss　Trimble's　eye。　〃Perfectly　simple。　I　really　am　Jimmy　Crocker；　you　know。〃　He　avoided　Ann's　gaze。　〃I　can't　think　what　you　are　making　all　this　fuss　about。〃
　〃Th'n　why　did　y'　sit　in　at　a　plot　to　kidnap　this　boy？〃
　〃That；　of　courseha；　ha！might　seem　at　first　sight　to　require　a　little　explanation。〃
　〃Y'　admit　it；　then？〃
　〃Yes。　As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　did　have　the　idea　of　kidnapping　Ogden。　Wanted　to　send　him　to　a　dogs'　hospital；　if　you　understand　what　I　mean。〃　He　tried　to　smile　a　conciliatory　smile；　but；　encountering　Miss　Trimble's　left　eye；　abandoned　the　project。　He　removed　a　bead　of　perspiration　from　his　forehead　with　his　handkerchief。　It　struck　him　as　a　very　curious　thing　that　the　simplest　explanations　were　so　often　quite　difficult　to　make。　〃Before　I　go　any　further；　I　ought　to　explain　one　thing。　Skinner　there　is　my　father。〃
　Mrs。　Pett　gasped。
　〃Skinner　was　my　sister's　butler　in　London。〃
　〃In　a　way　of　speaking；〃　said　Jimmy；　〃that　is　correct。　It's　rather　a　long　story。　It　was　this　way；　you　see。　。　。　。〃
　Miss　Trimble　uttered　an　ejaculation　of　supreme　contempt。
　〃I　n'ver　saw　such　a　lot　of　babbl'ng　crooks　in　m'　life！　't　beats　me　what　y'　hope　to　get　pulling　this　stuff。　Say！〃　She　indicated　Mr。　Crocker。　〃This　guy's　wanted　f'r　something　over　in　England。　We've　got　h's　photographs　'n　th'　office。　If　y'　ask　me；　he　lit　out　with　the　spoons　'r　something。　Say！〃　She　fixed　one　of　the　geniuses　with　her　pelling　eye。　〃'Bout　time　y'　made　y'rself　useful。　Go'n　call　up　th'　Astorbilt　on　th'　phone。　There's　a　dame　there　that's　been　making　the　enquiries　f'r　this　duck。　She　told　Anderson'sand　Anderson's　handed　it　on　to　usto　call　her　up　any　hour　of　the　day　'r　night　when　they　found　him。　You　go　get　her　on　the　wire　and　t'll　her　t'　e　right　up　here'n　a　taxi　and　identify　him。〃
　The　genius　paused　at　the　door。
　〃Whom　shall　I　ask　for？〃
　〃Mrs。　Crocker；〃　snapped　Miss　Trimble。　〃Siz　Bingley　Crocker。　Tell　her　we've　found　th'　guy　she's　been　looking　for！〃
　The　genius　backed　out。　There　was　a　howl　of　anguish　from　the　doorway。
　〃I　beg　your　pardon！〃　said　the　genius。
　〃Can't　you　look　where　you're　going！〃
　〃I　am　exceedingly　sorry〃
　〃Brrh！〃
　Mr。　Pett　entered　the　room；　hopping。　He　was　holding　one　slippered　foot　in　his　hand　and　appeared　to　be　submitting　it　to　some　form　of　massage。　It　was　plain　that　the　usually　mild　and　gentle　little　man　was　in　a　bad　temper。　He　glowered　round　him　at　the　pany　assembled。
　〃What　the　devil's　the　matter　here？〃　he　demanded。　〃I　stood　it　as　long　as　I　could；　but　a　man　can't　get　a　wink　of　sleep　with　this　noise　going　on！　〃
　〃Yipe！　Yipe！　Yipe！〃　barked　Aida　from　the　shelter　of　Mrs。　Pett's　arms。
　Mr。　Pett　started　violently。
　〃Kill　that　dog！　Throw　her　out！　Do　something　to　her！〃
　Mrs。　Pett　was　staring　blankly　at　her　husband。　She　had　never　seen　him　like　this　before。　It　was　as　if　a　rabbit　had　turned　and　growled　at　her。　ing　on　top　of　the　crowded　sensations　of　the　night；　it　had　the　effect　of　making　her　feel　curiously　weak。　In　all　her　married　life　she　had　never　known　what　fear　was。　She　had　coped　dauntlessly　with　the　late　Mr。　Ford；　a　man　of　a　spirited　temperament；　and　as　for　the　mild　Mr。　Pett　she　had　trampled　on　him。　But　now　she　felt　afraid。　This　new　Peter　intimidated　her。
　
　CHAPTER　XXIV
　SENSATIONAL　TURNING　OF　A　WORM
　
　To　this　remarkable　metamorphosis　in　Mr。　Peter　Pett　several　causes　had　contributed。　In　the　first　place；　the　sudden　dismissal　of　Jerry　Mitchell　had　obliged　him　to　go　two　days　without　the　physical　exercises　to　which　his　system　had　bee　accustomed；　and　this　had　produced　a　heavy；　irritable　condition　of　body　and　mind。　He　had　brooded　on　the　injustice　of　his　lot　until　he　had　almost　worked　himself　up　to　rebellion。　And　then；　as　sometimes　happened　with　him　when　he　was　out　of　sorts；　a　touch　of　gout　came　to　add　to　his　troubles。　Being　a　patient　man　by　nature；　he